No - you're not confused - I'm just not explaining things well. The
competitions I'm doing require both arias and art songs (a la NATS
competitions). This actually rather surprised me, since the competition I
need the late 20th Century arias for is a Contemporary Opera competition.
Not sure why they insist on having 3 art songs in the singer's selections,
along with the 2 late 20th century arias, and 2 "standard" arias. Plus at
the modern arias and at least one of the art songs must be in English. So
I'll be just squeaking in on the art song category by using my Butterworth
song, along with 2 others (the de Falla most likely). But I won't be doing
the thing at all if I can't find that post-1958 contralto or mezzo aria of
my dreams. I also need to get my sweaty little paws on a KLINGHOFFER score
*pronto*.
I'm wondering if I'd be okay using "I was the plaything of the gods",
Medea's aria from THE BLUE OPERA by Nancy Binns-Reed. Opera America
magazine listed the opera on its list of 50 American Operas that Should be
Revived. And I did sing the role of Medea in the world premiere, so it
really is "my" aria in a way.
So what think ye all? Does a Contemporary Opera competition deserve to
hear what may be the only revival ever of that particular aria? Does that
Opera America encomium "validate" the work?
Karen Mercedes
http://www.radix.net/~dalila/index.html
***************************************
Verdi and Wagner delighted the crowds
With their highly original sound.
The pianos they played are still working,
But they're both six feet underground.
- Michael Palin
|
|  |
